Social Security Administration backtracks on decision to end paper checks, reports say

The Social Security Administration will continue to send some paper checks to beneficiaries of the retirement program, reversing its recently announced plan to move all social security payments to electronic deposits beginning in the fall, according to media reports and Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

How many beneficiaries receive paper checks?

The SSA said less than 1% of beneficiaries have yet to switch to electronic payment methods and still receive paper checks. But with over 74 million people receiving Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or both in June 2025, dropping paper checks would potentially impact hundreds of thousands of Americans.

About 4.2% of of U.S. households lacked a bank or credit union account in 2023, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Bankrate reported one reason why some people are "underbanked" is because they believe they don't earn enough to open an account. Those who are underbanked also cited concerns about fees, privacy or general distrust of banks.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/social-security-administration-backtracks-decision-221853573.html

If the government is going to require people to have a bank account to receive monies they are entitled to, then there should be an income threshold below which the government should have to pay for any fees needed for the recipient to have such an account. Period.